avalaughs | TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ I

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TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ I

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A ⦿ Soaking in Your Arrival

KERPLUNK, SPLASH!

Regardless of what you were in the middle of, you and your familiar have been magically pulled into the world of Avalon just above the Bay's waters. After a brief plunge into the Bay, the rush of water filling your ears and soaking up into every creak and crevice of your body, you may need to cough to clear your airways when you rise above the surface. You'll definitely see other new arrivals plopping in. If you can't swim, a red-headed woman known only as the Lady of the Lake will drag you to the shore if she doesn't spot someone else near you helping so no one ends up drowning. She's a little busy casting directive magic to make sure everyone lands safely and playing lifeguard, so if anyone attempts to talk to her, she'll tell them to head up to the Rent-a-Ride. The shores themselves are littered with new arrivals complaining their way up a staircase carved into the walls of the White Cliffs. There is no railing, so be careful, but if you do fall, be prepared for a mysterious sand hand to reach out of the side of the cliffs to catch you. The hand will pat you atop the head twice before retreating back into the wall. This is the Cliff Beast; despite the name, he is quite friendly.

B ⦿ The Caravan to Camelot

Once everyone is wrangled up to the top of the White Cliffs, the handsome owner of the Rent-a-Ride, Archimedes, will distribute smart phones and a pair of earbuds to everyone before getting them settled in groups into modernized carriages pulled by horses and give them a basic explanation of why and how they've been brought to Avalon: The universe is frozen in time and your character has been brought here by a familiar that was able to bond with them. They'll have to learn magic to help save their own world from destruction, but first they've got to get them to Camelot. It is here that you have the first opportunity to decide who they will be in their new home. You'll have about an hour to wander around here, meet and greet, and pet the horses before it's time to go.

These carriages use fae technology that combats weight, so your character will be able to get in regardless of whether they're light as a feather or weigh two tons. The carts have air conditioning when it's hot, heating when it's cold, and a mystical shield to protect from bugs. There is also a mini-bar that pops out of the console with nip bottles. Characters can use their smartphones to connect to Camelot's internet service,

avalononline (AOL), to chat with other characters, watch dumb videos, learn about the world, contact Camelot Support (they'll answer any questions they can for you, from how to use a smart phone to where to find quests and resources to learn more about your magic). Be careful if you decide to use your phones while in the caravan-- if you don't use those earbuds and start forcing everyone to listen to your nonsense, Archimedes may make you walk.

C ⦿ The Red Spring

The journey from the White Cliffs to the City of Camelot is a long one, and the first evening you arrive you'll end up spending at the Red Spring, a booming resort town. Because of the volume of new arrivals and vacationers, inn rooms are assigned two-to-a-room. The rooms have two twin beds, a bathroom, a mini-fridge and microwave, and a TV equipped with a couple of entertaining video games and a few free movies.

If you don't want to relax in the room, try taking a dip in the spring for another chance to meet your fellow travelers. The waters have restorative properties that help horses and travelers recover quickly when drunk. It is known to relieve stress, improve energy levels, and mildly accelerate healing.

The springs are also home to a large training grounds just outside town limits, where there are teachers who will teach basic magic safety and help you discover what kind of magic you have together with other new arrivals. Try target practice, obstacle courses, meditation circles, and other ways to try to figure out just what you can do.. if you didn't already have an accidental discovery on the ride there.

A ⦿ Get Fresh

Upon arrival in Camelot travelers are ushered to a large set of wash rooms where they can clean up and make themselves presentable for the Welcome Feast. They are informed that once the feast concludes there will be an announcement on where they can seek lodging and how to begin their magic studies.

B ⦿ Be Merry

After they freshen up, travelers are led into the main dining hall. The decorations range from simplistic to a little more grandiose, it is likely everyone will find something familiar. A modern mash up with a medieval flair. The jester makes his rounds, perhaps he has a joke or two to tell, go ahead, give him a listen or perhaps volunteer to participate in one of the jester's shows, like knife-throwing or hypnotism. Within the crowd of staff there are mummers, a juggler, here and there dabbled through small troupes perform mini skits, perhaps they’ll perform a well known verse from a traveler’s world or tell a tale of fancy from this realm.

C ⦿ Eat Well

A banquet is prepared with food that while all “rustic” in appearance are usually a version of modern dishes ranging from basic roast chicken and veggies to Korean-Mexican fusion and French patisserie. The drinks are much the same; while served in old fashioned goblets, they are drinks modern travelers will be familiar with.

Have a seat, meet a new neighbor, find a roommate, maybe a new or old friend? Talk to the person to your left, your right, across from you. Mingle, enjoy the food, the music, it shouldn’t be long before the information promised is provided. Till then take your fill and get to know your fellow travelers.

You've been here a few days now and have gotten a chance to settle in, find a place to stay, and Camelot's citizens have decided that you've been here long enough to start living your life again. Well, your new life.

A group of citizens have decided to give everyone their first quest.

"Hear ye, hear ye!" a man in chain mail with a tablet with his statement typed up on it declares to a crowd from atop a pedestal. There are two other citizens around him with phones to post the video to AOL later to make sure the word gets heard ye all around.

"Those with magic, we beseech thee! Findeth us a grail most holy hidden in the depths of the Brocéliande! This holy grail is known to grant thine wishes three, a most noble quest for noble souls! Great reward will come to those who find it and proclaim at least one of their wishes to find the great Excalibur for King Arthur!"

This is the first you've heard about King Arthur, and it seems curious that he hasn't yet shown his face around town. It also seems strange that this guy is speaking like he's stepped out of a bad period piece, and probably should be the clue that this is more or less an attempt to haze some of the newcomers by sending them into the forest... but no one is telling newcomers this. It's better to get them out there and start praciticing, after all.

A ⦿ Lost, and Lost, and Lost Again

The Brocéliande is well-known around Camelot for being a forest that's both bountiful and mysterious. Oddities are known to happen that may never happen again to the point that even if something weird happens and you can't prove it, most citizens will assume you're telling the truth.

Which is what makes it peculiar when you keep passing the exact same locations over and over again, as if you've been traveling in circles or reaching the end of the map in a video game and coming out the other end. You're stuck in a space loop. The only way out is to successfully find the one difference in each loop five times in a row and collect it. Maybe it's a strange frog, a crystal that wasn't there before, a small wooden step that doesn't lead anywhere, or some other singular item, you've got to find what stands out... pick the wrong item, and you'll have to start your five count over again, and again, and again...

B ⦿ Grail, and Grail, and Grail Again!?

If you either missed the space loop or managed to get out of it, eventually you'll come to find one of... quite a few copies of a grail with holes in the side placed throughout the forest. They look like they might be good for draining noodles, but that's about it. Though they're spread out, it's entirely possible you'll find more than one, but each of them are placed in situations where it's impossible to get to by normal means. You'll have to use magic! It may be hidden in a bird's nest at the top of the tallest tree, inside of a hole in a rock with bars that prevent you from reaching in (perhaps an animal friend could reach it), inside a boiling pond, or inside the body of a bear fir... there are a load of possibilities, and now's a chance for you to try out your brand new magics! Use one of those samples, find something from the bestiary, or come up with your own adventure to get your hands on that less-than-holy grail.

C ⦿ A Quest Completeish

Or it would be, if you could ever find the guy who announced it... The AOL posts have since been deleted. You may end up spending a lot of time trying to find the guy. At this point, citizens will start telling you that you shouldn't take quests unless they're on the quest board or else you're going to get scammed... that's definitely an olden times themed noodle strainer. If that doesn't make you give up, or perhaps motivates you to find the guy to kick his ass, you'll have to head out to the farmland and chase them through a cornfield. (Be careful not to get lost, it's a maize in there.) If one of the boys are caught, they'll explain they were just testing you-- and hey, you got a free addition to your kitchen! If pressed, they'll apologize and give you a bit of money for your trouble. It's not much, but it'll get you at least a meal.

MOD NOTES:
• All test drive prompts are open to anyone in the game at any time to create your own logs with, but this post should have top-levels by potential new characters only. Current characters may reply to any threads, but should not top-level comment on this post. This is the first one, ignore this note today!
• If your application is accepted, you may accept TDM threads as game canon as long as both players consent. Characters may begin threading as soon as their journal is accepted to the communities.
• For the first month only, there will not be a quest board. Starting in December, quests will be posted on the 1st of each month for current players. After that point, quests may be used as TDM prompts in addition to the presented TDM prompts. A link will be provided as a bonus prompt option at the end of the post.
• The first "Arrival" prompts are present on every TDM. All other prompts will change monthly.
• Questions about this TDM's content? Comment here! If you have a question about the game at-large, please head over to the FAQ.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

THE RED SPRING;

[It had taken most of the day's ride from the White Cliffs to the Red Spring for Juno to get used to her new little traveling companion. She soon found though that the creature she couldn't name never actually made any noise she didn't make first herself and seemed to simply echo back all her words. Or snippets of them as it needs to communicate.

Once they come to their inn room though she feels she's made tolerable friends with the copy-cat beast. It doesn't seem to be going away though so when it flops out on one of the beds and starts snoozing like it owns the place she takes it as a chance to leave the room and go sight-seeing on her own.

This of course leads to a dip in the spring if she isn't stopped before she gets to whatever changing rooms there are. In spite of all the confusion and chaos today she seems to be in very good spirits as she wanders into the spring itself clad in a bathrobe.]

Hello everyone~!

[Her toothy grin is bright though it's definitely a smile just full of teeth.]

EAT WELL;

[The creature is back but seems pleased enough by their surroundings to mostly keep quiet. At least until it and Juno spot the banquet at the same time and then it simply echoes Juno's own "oooh!".

From there the wolf and her little muppet of a companion pile up some extraordinary plates. She plops down next to someone else with a polite:]

Ah, excuse me there. This seat is free, yes?

[Despite how her plate might be piled there's a distinct lack of meat. Judging by the way her tail wags though she doesn't seem bothered at all by that.]

A QUEST COMPLETEISH;

[Angry texting ensues.]
WHAT?? A SCAM?? WHAT?!

WILDCARD;

[Feel free to hit me up for any other prompts. PMs are open for plotting!]

[Xayah has a plate full of everything, falling into the lake made her moppy, wet bird so she's catching up on it with food. She has her legs crossed, talons instead of feet and all wrapped up in leather, a leather dress, and what seems to be a wing-like cape. Her feathery ears, that are peeking from openings on her cowl, twitch when she hears a voice, pausing in feeding the little pink and purple bird bird that's flying in front of her.]

Sure.

[The bird cheeps happily and nudges Xayah's hand and her eyes focus back on the bird, giving it a scratch.

A small pause-]

I didn't think there are creatures similar to me here.

Edited (html) 2020-11-01 21:43 (UTC)

[Juno wastes no time in plopping her food tray right on down when permission is given. The little brown monkey/dog creature that had been toddling along with her deftly hops up first onto the chair next to Juno and then onto the table itself while holding it's own tray.

While her companion sets upon the food like it's never seen it before Juno instead looks a little mildly surprised at Xayah's words. And then in the same beat seems to recall just where she is.

Her expression turns sheepish, one of her ears rapidly flicking alongside her light embarrassed laugh.]

Is that so? I hope I didn't surprise you too much then.

[She reaches for her drink as she's more than a little parched and seems to muse over the crowds gathered.]

It's more shocking for me not to see others more like us.

[There's this sort of softness to the tone speaking of things Juno didn't know she had taken for granted until she got here. She's not terrific at hiding her emotions.]

[Xayah's bird continues to cheep every time she feeds her and eventually flies underneath her cowl and curls up in her hair to sleep. She doesn't seem to be bothered by it.

Her eyes zero in on her when she laughs and then she shakes her head-] You didn't. The place I'm from... well. [She shows at herself and bird-like features. Ionia and Vastayan tribes are everywhere, although lately, things have been going south rapidly. Xayah's peeved that she ended up being stuck here and without Rakan.]

If that what you're used to seeing, of course, it will be shocking.

[And... Xayah's really not good at comforting people. She more like "push onwards regardless of what happens".]

It's unsettling that there are so many humans, [her eyes leave Juno to stare at the crowd as if it will suddenly break out in a battle. But nothing happens.]

[Juno perks right on back up as she speaks. Her ears tilt forward and her expression is open and animated.]

It really was! Not only did I end up just dropped into water but everyone I came across once I got on shore was so strange!

[Emphasis on the strange. She gestures with her glass, the liquid sloshing threateningly within it.]

At least wolves are comfortable in water. Can you imagine if I was a cat?!

[ Guess who Louis didn't expect to see? Especially not here. Especially not while relaxing in the springs which were doing a great job of alleviating his stress of the day's worth of traveling and figuring out things about this place. But - he's not unhappy to see her, certainly. She's animated and bright and he likes her company usually.

He climbs out of the hot spring, propping himself on the side of it when he sees her. ]

Juno...

[ He stands, finding a robe to wrap it around himself. ]

You're here?

... Louis?

[At first the look Juno gives him can only be described as shell-shocked. She blinks at him a time or two before her eyes go wide and instantly her head jerks in the opposite direction from him, giving the door her full attention. Her hands have stilled on the knotted tied of her robe thankfully.]

I -- this isn't the female side?

[She's so used to the typical hot springs at home that she just assumed... but then again thinking on it there was only one entrance, wasn't there.

What had been rigid shock with shoulders raised high and tight, eyes round along with the perked ears and her taunt tail wanting to point straight up (and take the edge of her bathrobe with it, of course) slowly eases out at that realization. As her shoulders begin to relax she gives a light, sheepish laugh and glances back at him.

Gently, of course. She doesn't want to catch him not covered up if he wants to be.]

Mm, it seems like it. You arrived today as well?

Edited 2020-11-02 20:08 (UTC)

[ He tugs the towel around his hips, and ties the corners together so he doesn't have to hold it up with his hands. He notices that she's avoiding looking at him fully. But, he assumes that covering himself up as much as possible will probably discourage her from avoiding looking directly at him. He tilts his head slightly and takes a couple of steps towards her. ]

What's with the bashful act?

[ Just as he always would tease her, he is now. That's as far as he takes it, though. He doesn't want to push it too hard. ]

I just got here, too. The water is, supposedly, a bit magical.

[Likely as he expected the question does the trick. She looks back at him finally with a furrowed brow and the sweep of pink under the fur of her cheeks deepens.]

I'm not bashful. I was being considerate.

[She gives a displeased huff after that but doesn't seem mightily offended or anything. Flicking her eyes to said waters her expression lightens some.]

Oh? How did it feel then?

[She does still want to have a soak after all if she still can.]

[It's a good thing she's used to existing in places that lean towards accommodating larger mammals, because if Haru were less worldly of a rabbit she'd be pretty frustrated at how hard-to-reach everything is for someone as small as her.

She's already seated at a pretty empty place setting, her own plate piled high with large servings of whatever delicious veggie dishes were available, having traversed back only to get a bowl of vegetable soup as an appetizer. She's blowing on her spoon when Juno approaches, ear twitching slightly to convey her surprise at seeing the familiar female wolf.

But...Louis is here, so it all makes sense...]

You sure you want to sit with me? [She peers up at Juno with scrutiny, and then over towards her smaller companion. Haru's own familiar is also in attendance but it's less noticeable and less hungry, sitting on her head and looking more like a stray ball of fluff that's stuck in her fur.

She gestures at Juno's 'friend' with her spoon after having popped it into her mouth, chewing as she speaks.] Is that your dinner date?

[Juno's ears gently perk forward. And then her expression turns gently embrassed, eyes crinkling at the edges as she grins.]

Considering you're the first familiar face I've seen all day, it would be nice.

[Does that sound somewhat snarky? Maybe. Juno can't decide herself how glad she really is to see the rabbit she once thought of as the bane of her love-life.

Either way she's going to sit and so is the little furry monkey/dog thing accompanying her. It plops down it's tray and then blinks round, dark eyes at Haru before echoing back her own words in her own voice at her.]

Date? Date.

[It contemplates a brief moment with a blink or two of it's dark eyes and that smile still firmly stuck in place before it begins eating with an admirable gusto.

Juno meanwhile blows out a slight breath while her expression hovers somewhere between exasperation and a tired acceptance.]

I guess so. It hasn't left my side for more than a few hours today.

[Haru's ear flicks thoughtfully, spoon back at her mouth, resting at her lower lip.

After a moment of consideration, she shrugs her shoulders, kicking her feet a bit in her overlarge chair (she's able to reach the tabletop thanks to some extra cushions).]

You're right, it would be nice. [Said genuinely, while Juno does take her seat with her companion sidling next to her.

Echoing her words.

She stares at it.]

Uh...huh. [Strange...she shakes her head, the way it eats a bit unnerving so she chooses not to watch, instead turning back to her soup. It's creamy and good with chunks of veggies; almost reminds her of what they used to serve back in Cherryton.] Seems like we're all stuck with a tagalong, huh? Mine's also been hard to shake.

[She points up at her head at the white tuft of fluff sitting perfectly center between her ears. Its small and with its eyes closed it just...well it looks like Haru is just pointing at some stray dandelion fuzz stuck on her head.]

[Haru's companion? It's not until she points that Juno finally notices it, her eyes first flicking up in that direction and then pausing to widen just a touch.

And then she presses her hands into the fluff of her cheeks, eyes bright and tail wagging.]

Ah! It's cute!

[Meanwhile the Yamabiko blinks over in Haru's direction again, the end of a bone stuck out of it's perpetually smiling mouth.]

[Feeling new eyes on it, the Kesaran-Pasaran opens one small eye at first, then both. It stares at Juno for what amounts to a second before it lets out a small squeak and retreats behind Haru's ear.

Ah...it itches...Haru's ear twitches. She seems amused, mostly by Juno's rapidly wagging tail.]

Isn't it? But it tickles. [She scratches just below her ear, glancing at Juno's companion again and...

regretting it. She shudders a bit at the sight of a bone sticking out of its mouth.]

Yours is um. It looks like you?

[SORRY SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY it looks like a dog-adjacent animal!! so!!]

[The look Juno levels on Haru is equal measures aghast and huffy. The change is so rapid her tail barely has time to catch up, freezing mid-wag.]

It doesn't!

[Now she whips her gaze over to said creature. It looks back, casually chewing that bone. Juno makes a sound that sounds heavily like a mother tsking.]

Here now, don't do that. Give it here.

[She reaches out her hand and obediently the Yamabiko just spits out what's left of the bone into her palm like the rampant toddler it's acting like. It's grin returns, running almost from ear to ear.

The looks on Juno's face is one of withering disgust because... well. There's a half-chewed drool-covered piece of bone in her hand. She reaches for the nearest napkin with healthy sigh.]

Sure. [Dust even offers a smile, scooting over just a hair to make the offer clear. He's much more comfortable around her and others like him, even if they aren't the same, or from the same world.] How's it going?

[Juno bears no bones about plopping right down, musing a moment as she fiddles with her chopsticks.]

Mm... well, I don't really know where to begin...

If you're physically well, that's a good start. If on the balance you're doing okay mentally, that's also pretty good.

[Might as well start from the basics and work forwards.]

[She blinks a bit.]

That's a ... very logical way of thinking of it, yes.

[Somehow he sounds like Louis right now.]

You can thank Ahrah for that. He's helped me with the perspective, here.

[Dust lets a hand drop to rest on the hilt of his sword.]

Start with those, because you need them to get by. If you can still think, and still act, you're not helpless.

[So a fourteen year old girl meeting a wolf girl with that much teeth would probably have scared most people. For Luz, who had spent her time in the Boiling Isles though? Her only thought was she was face to face with a super hottie wolf girl with a figure she couldn't help but envy. She was really, really pretty].

WOW. I mean, you look great! You are...really, REALLY tall! Hi, I'm Luz!

[Have the blushing human girl standing on her tiptoes to meet eyes with the wolf teen].

[The amount of non-furred animals around was something Juno was still getting adapted to. Not that they were that strange really but she had never come across animals that looked quite like these humans did.

Juno's ears perk forward some, expression curious.]

Should I bend down? It doesn't make you uncomfortable, does it?

[Here she'll lean down a bit, just to match heights with the girl before her.]

Huh? Oh, no, not at all! I mean, it's fine!

[Oh there she goes, getting at her height now. That was a little worse, but Luz shook her head. She wasn't going to make this awkward, first impressions were everything she eventually learned!]

Where I'm from, there's not...that many tall people, yeah! But I guess we're all out of place here after all! This is technically only the second time this has happened to me anyway. Are you from a magical world too?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TEST DRIVE MEME ⚔️️ I

Juno | Beastars

Eat Well

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at the spring because. yeah.

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eat well;

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Eat Well

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The Red Spring

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